JAM3 promotes cervical cancer metastasis by activating the HIF-1α/VEGFA pathway

BMC Womens Health. 2024 May 17;24(1):293. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-03127-7.

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Tumor metastasis is an important cause of poor prognosis. Determining the exact mechanisms of metastasis and potential targeted therapies is urgently needed. Junctional adhesion molecule 3 (JAM3) is an important member of the TJ tight junction (TJ) family, and its biological function in cervical cancer needs to be further clarified. We found that JAM3 was highly expressed in cervical cancer patients with lymph node metastasis and that high expression of JAM3 promoted cervical cancer cell metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, overexpression of JAM3 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, silencing JAM3 suppressed cervical cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro. Finally, JAM3 overexpression activated the HIF-1α/VEGFA pathway. In conclusion, our results suggested that JAM3 promotes cervical cancer cell migration and invasion by activating the HIF-1α/VEGFA pathway. JAM3 may be a promising biomarker and effective therapeutic target for cervical cancer.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; HIF-1α/VEGFA pathway; JAM3; Metastasis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules* / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules* / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement* / genetics
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit* / metabolism
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Signal Transduction
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • HIF1A protein, human
  • JAM3 protein, human